Meet the 2012 LIFT Recipients - Salina Education Foundation

salinaeducationfoundation.com 785-309-4729 Spring 2012
Classroom grants to enhance student learning • Exceptional teachers to staff our classrooms
SEF Celebrates
25 Years
Happy Birthday SEF!
Twenty-five years ago,
on February 9, 1987,
the first official meeting
of the Salina Education
Foundation was held.
The bylaws stipulated
that all seven school board members
serve as trustees, the superintendent and
assistant superintendent of business affairs
serve as ex-officio members, and the
remaining members be chosen from the
community. Today, the 16-member board
has two representatives from the Board of
Education and 14 community members
guiding the work of the SEF. The Executive
Director and the Superintendent serve
ex-officio.
Our 25 th birthday is a great time to reflect
on some of our accomplishments:
• Awarded over $500,000 in teacher grants
• Developed the LIFT Program that
awards $5,000 forgivable loans to prospective
teachers
• Administered community initiatives like
the Central High Tennis Courts and the
South High Softball Fields
• Supported hundreds of graduating seniors
with scholarships and awards
• Administered specific programs and
services for every school in the district
(Example: Nurse Vision Fund that works
with optometrists to provide eye care for
students)
All of these programs are made possible
because of you, our donor. Please plan to
attend our annual Fall Breakfast on August
28. We are planning a birthday celebration,
and it wouldn’t be a party without you!
Meet the 2012 LIFT Recipients
We are pleased to introduce three new
LIFT (Loan Initiative for Future Teachers)
Recipients!
Samantha McCary graduated from
South High School in 2010 where she
was active in Lab Chicks and worked at
Lakewood Discovery
Center. Sam
is a sophomore at
the University of
Kansas, majoring in
Middle Level Mathematics
Education.
She is very active in
the “Best Buddies”
organization that
pairs college students
with students
Samantha McCary
with disabilities. She will be the College
Buddy Director next year. Her ultimate
goal, to be a special education teacher,
became clear when she worked as an aide
in Mrs. Jenni Showman’s class where she
felt “at ease and calm working with students
with disabilities.” Samantha’s goal
is to get a Master’s in Special Education.
Lauren Meis, a 2011 South High graduate,
is a freshman at Kansas State University
where she is
the featured twirler
for the Kansas State
Marching Band. In
high school, Lauren
was active in Big
Brothers, Big Sisters,
taught private baton
twirling lessons (she
continues to come
home to teach every Lauren Meis
Monday evening), and served as a teacher’s
aide in her high school chemistry
class. Because of her love of mathematics
and ability to explain math concepts
in a way that others can understand, she
wants to teach mathematics. Her eventual
goal is to obtain a Master’s degree
in school counseling because, “I want
to have an impact, not only by teaching
students the basic subjects but also by
giving them support and motivation to be
the best they can be.”
Jessica Steele will graduate from South
High School this spring and attend Kansas
State University
this fall. During
high school, in
addition to excelling
academically,
Jessica participated
in track all four
years (shot put,
discus, and javelin).
She volunteered for
the Salina Track
Jessica Steele
and Field Club and loved “teaching kids
a brand new sport, making them work
hard to grow, and celebrating their success.”
Jessica plans to major in Elementary
Education with an emphasis in
Special Education and a minor in English
as a Second Language. She has worked
in special education classrooms and has
learned that “Working with children with
special needs has helped me to discover
my passion for teaching.”
Congratulations to these three remarkable
young women!

Photo by Carly Reichert
Joe’s Pet Project Rocks!
The SEF is collaborating with five Salina
South High grads to bring a rock concert
to USD 305. Joe’s Pet Project, formed more
than a decade ago, consists of Nathan
Tysen, vocals and guitar; Ryan McCall,
piano and vocals; Lance Gilchrist, drums
and vocals; John Hobson, guitar; and Jason
Hammond, bass.
The band, whose members
live in different cities most of the
year, gather periodically to play in
Salina and the surrounding area.
They headlined the Friday night
street dance at the 2011 Smoky
Hill River Festival and recently
performed at Ad Astra Coffee and
Book Store.
The band plans an album release
this summer. The album will
contain a mixture of their most
popular original songs, some
new material, and unique cover
versions of classic rock songs.
The group has written for outside
projects, ranging from the Broadway stage
to Sesame Street.
Tysen has written lyrics for two stage
musicals with his longtime writing partner,
composer Chris Miller. Their first musical,
“The Burnt Part Boys,” had a critically acclaimed
Off-Broadway run in 2010. A new
musical, “Tuck Everlasting,” based on the
popular children’s book, is being readied
for a Broadway opening in March 2013.
Keyboardist McCall and Tysen wrote a
children’s musical, “Noah’s Art,” which was
staged in 2003 at Tysen and McCall’s alma
mater, Salina South High School. The play
recently completed a successful run at the
University of Kansas.
The band will work with students in
music and theater classes to perform a
two-hour concert on October 13, 2012,
in Central High School’s auditorium.
Students will be involved in every aspect
of the concert, including original songwriting.
The band’s enthusiasm for Salina
and the public schools that educated them
makes this project one that the SEF is
proud to bring to our students and community.
Mark your calendars, on October
13, students will rock!
Thank you to Gary Demuth, Salina
Journal, for some content.
2012 Scholarship Recipients Named
The SEF is pleased to announce the
scholarship recipients for 2012. They will
be recognized at their school’s awards night
(Central High-April 26; South High-April
30). We congratulate these outstanding
students and wish them success in their
college careers.
At the time of printing, the NEA
Scholarship, the Jo Musselwhite Scholarship,
and the Nancy Whitehair Ribble
Scholarship had not been awarded. For
more information about SEF scholarships
and all application forms, go to: www.
salinaeducationfoundation.com
2012-2013 Grants
Musician, scientist, and architect
are just three of the professions
our students will explore this fall.
Take a look at the great projects kids will be
doing next year, thanks to your support of
the SEF’s Grant Programs!
21st Century Advantage
Grant Recipients
Jennifer Chlumsky, Coronado
Elementary music students will have 5
new Bass Bars which will complete the
classroom set of instruments. Students
Page 2
Ronald F. Feitel, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
David Jett Memorial Scholarship
Mustang Scholarship
Owen E. Hodgson Memorial Scholarship
Class of 1940 Scholarship
Class of 1933 Scholarship
Destry Allen Memorial Scholarship
Justin Cosco Memorial Scholarship
Stephen Cosco Memorial Scholarship
Judy Wright Memorial Scholarship
James Maupin Memorial Scholarship
will learn to read, notate, and compose a
variety of quality rhythms, melodies, and
accompaniments as well as execute musical
expressions like crescendo, decrescendo,
staccato, etc.
Stephanie Martin, Coronado Second and
fifth grade students will learn how to “Eat
Smart and Play Hard” by logging activity
and food choices. Students that complete
the log will receive a pedometer to use as
they increase daily activity. Students will
learn about nutritious foods by creating
posters, cooking together, and compiling a
recipe book.
Blake Michaud, Central High
William A. Reid, Central High
Brenton Hilbig, Central High
Tionna Trarbach, Central High
Amanda Merrick, South High
Alex Furst, Central High
Casey Leister, Central High
Max Wellbrock-Talley, Central High
Tionna Trarbach, Central High
Andrew Fontes, Central High
Alyssa Ferguson, South High
Brady Munsch, South High
Patti Flenthrope, Cottonwood Preschool
children and their parents will participate
in “Game Night,” which encourages parents
to turn off the television and play board
games with their children. Parents hear
a presentation of the benefits of playing
with their children (increasing math and
language development, fine motor skills,
and social skills, to name a few) and then
play a game with their family. Each family
that participates takes home one Memory
and one board game.
Shelly Parks, Heartland Preschool
children will become investigative
See 2012-2013 Grants, page 3
Salina Education Foundation

2012-2013 Grants from page 2
scientists. By providing naturally curious
children with science materials that
create opportunities for investigation
and in-depth study, teachers will help
students learn how to observe, predict, and
summarize what they discover.
Roxanne Bell, Heartland Twenty-five
families will learn the importance of eating
together as a family and how to prepare
healthy, thrifty meals. Current research
finds that families who eat together often
have children who make better grades in
school, have fewer absences, and are less
likely to be involved in criminal or antisocial
activities.
Jane Koch, Meadowlark Ridge
Elementary students will have 14 new
drums in their classroom this fall. Students
will learn about various world cultures and
music, work on performances, and have
the opportunity to participate in an after or
before school drum circle.
Margie Carrier, Schilling Second grade
students will build math skills by using
fun, hands-on activities that target key
math concepts like measurement, addition,
and subtraction as well as telling time and
understanding money. These activities
build on math concepts and allow students
to work independently to solve math
problems.
Nancy Bauer, Schilling Music students
will receive drums to complete a classroom
set that the SEF funded in part last year.
Students will practice music-reading
skills, work as a team, and learn about
music from around the world. Musicians
will share their drumming skills and
experiences with the children.
Anne Abel, Schilling Fourth grade
students will read great non-fiction books
that supplements their textbook. Students
will partner with each other to learn more
about a theme they are studying. For
example, students studying “Plants” will
have the opportunity to learn about the
work of George Washington Carver.
Cathy Yarochowicz, South High Physical
education students will test their heart rates
at rest and during physical activity with 10
new InstaPulse Monitors. Students will
measure and graph their cardiac activity
while participating in exercise and during
the “cool down” period. The goal is to help
students understand the importance of
physical activity and heart health.
Kim Curtis, Gifted Facilitator Students
will experiment with proportion,
symmetry, and scale in architecture.
They will explore some of the world’s
most famous structures like the Chrysler
Building and the Sydney Opera House
and then design their own 3-D floor plans.
Using observation, reasoning and critical
thinking, they will team with each other to
plan and design functional living spaces.
Ashley Gilpin, Gifted Facilitator
Students will increase comprehension,
critical thinking, vocabulary, and writing
skills using the Junior Great Books
Program. By providing quality reading
materials for students in grades 2-5,
teachers will work with students on
their expository writing skills and teach
the importance of sharing ideas in a
collaborative atmosphere.
Outside-the-Box Grant
Recipients
Janice Ostrom, Instructional Media
Middle and high school students have an
opportunity to hear author Ben Mikaelsen,
whose unique experiences such as raising
a 750-pound black bear, living with the
homeless, and working with dolphins make
his writing appealing to students. This
will be the first author visit for secondary
students, and librarians are excited to bring
this opportunity to their students.
Tammy Moon, Emily Komarek, and
Lois Newcomer, Coronado Third
graders will read “The Seven Wonders of
Sassafras Springs” and then learn about
Salina and choose what they consider to
be “The Seven Wonders of Salina.” The
students will visit the seven wonders
they have chosen, create a public service
announcement explaining why each
location was selected, tour the facility, and
meet the staff. South High multimedia
students will help to create the PSA.
Matthew Gerry, South Middle
Partnering again with The Stiefel Theatre,
students will have the opportunity to attend
“Concert Night with Mr. G.” The goal of
the project is to expose students to different
musical styles, have them research these
styles and performers, and attend a live
music performance. Last year, students
attended sound checks and even met with
artists to ask questions, get autographs, and
pose for pictures.
Lyric Cairns, South High Philips Lighting
supports this grant for the SHS Robotics
Club to participate in the BEST Robotics
program and competition. All schools
receive the same robotics kit that students
use to create a robot designed to perform
specific tasks in the competition held in
November. Students have a brief window
(about 6 weeks) in order to construct the
robot. They also put together a marketing
plan and multimedia presentation to
“sell” their robot to the judges. The club
collaborates with students in marketing,
business, art, and even culinary classes in
order to prepare their presentation.
Nikki Chamberlain, South High Philips
Lighting supports “Lab Chicks” for
students who want to share their love of
science. Students do a reading program
with K-1st grade students called “The
Quirkles” and host Girls in the Lab Day
every school year (this year 175 girls
in grades 4-8 participated). The group
also travels to Coronado and Heusner to
build rockets. The goal of the club is to
encourage young women to pursue careers
in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics and to instill a love for science
in elementary and middle school girls.
Deb Christie, Sunset Transportation
will be provided for Oakdale, Schilling,
Sunset, and Cottonwood students so
that they can participate in Kansas Kids
Fitness Day, an annual event sponsored
by the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment. The day is hosted at
40 sites across Kansas on the first Friday
in May. Salina has been one of the host
sites for more than a decade. Children
rotate through different stations that
provide information, demonstrations, and
activities. Third graders from USD 305,
Ell-Saline, Lindsborg, and Southeast of
Saline participate.
Sudden Opportunity Grants:
The SEF will double funding on these
quick turnaround grants for the 2012-2013
school year.
Third Grade Seven Wonders: Coronado 3rd graders
visit Kenwood Cove, one of Salina’s Seven Wonders
See 2012-2013 Grants, page 4
salinaeducationfoundation.com Page 3

Our Mission
To promote and support
educational excellence by
providing resources to enhance
opportunities for the students and
staff of Salina’s public schools.
As part of this mission, the trustees
of the Foundation:
Manage and grow endowment funds,
grants, and gifts for specific schools,
programs, and scholarships
Award grants to teachers seeking to
enhance instruction
Identify and support, through
forgivable loans, outstanding Saline
County residents seeking to become
teachers in USD 305
Build community awareness and
support of the Salina Education
Foundation
Our Vision
Uniting the community to
support excellent public schools
2011-12 Board of Trustees
Carol Brandert.................................Chair
Gail Konzem.............................Vice Chair
Mary Andersen.........................Secretary
Amy Stonebraker .....................Treasurer
Pam McIntyre............. Executive Director
William D. Hall......................... Ex Officio
Gary Denning
Heather Fuller
Judy Helm
Jeff Lamb
Jenny Maring
Aaron Martin
Rex Matlack
Amanda Michaelis
Daran Neuschafer
Byron Norris
Mary Shaffer
Brenda Smith
1511 Gypsum
P.O. Box 797
Salina, Kansas 67402-0797
785-309-4729
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2012-2013 Grants from page 3
Help Make A Difference. JOIN SEF TODAY!
YES! I want the BEST for all students in
the Salina School District! Gifts are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Family Game Night: Cottonwood families play board
games together during “Game Night.”
$3000 or more 21st Century Club
$1000-2999 SEF Benefactor
$500-999 SEF Patron
$100-499 SEF Supporter
$10-99 SEF Friend
Please send more information
____________________________________________________________
name
____________________________________________________________
address
____________________________________________________________
city, state, zip
Science Geeks: A Sudden Opportunity Grant made the Heusner Science Geek Club possible this year.
Make checks payable to:
Salina Education Foundation
PO Box 797
Salina, KS 67402-0797

SEF Grants and Programs
21st Century Advantage Grant: awarded annually for
creative and innovative classroom projects
Sudden Opportunity Grant: quick turn-around grant for
projects that come up unexpectedly
LIFT Program: awards up to $5,000 per year for Saline
County residents who wish to become teachers
Outside-the-Box Grant: awarded annually for projects
that take students outside the typical classroom setting
Our Kids - Our Future
Thank you to our business partners who have made a commitment to making
USD 305 Schools exceptional by supporting the work of the Salina Education Foundation.
When you support them, you support the work of the SEF!
Donations from 7/01/2011-4/09/2012
21st Century Club - $3,000 +
Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
Pepsi Cola Bottling Company
Salina Journal
Salina Regional Health Foundation
Solomon Corporation
Benefactor - $1000-$2999
Clark, Mize and Linville, Chtd.
Hassman Termite and Pest Control, Inc.
Jones Gillam Renz Architects, Inc.
Philips Lighting Company
Wells Fargo Associates - Jeff Ingles
Westar Energy Foundation
Patron - $500-$999
Bennington State Bank
Casey’s General Stores
Central States Enterprises, LLC
Drs. LaPierre and Sharpe
Durham School Services LP
Exline, Inc.
Hampton Financials - Frank Hampton
Kennedy and Coe, LLC
McDonald’s of Salina
Donation for every Cherry Berry Chiller
& Frozen Strawberry Lemonade sold in May
Research Products Company
Salina Iron and Metal
Valmont Coating~Salina Galvanizing
Waters True Value Hardware~Earthcare
Supporter - $100-$499
A&B Machine, Inc.
Arrow Printing Company, Inc.
Assurance Partners LLC and Allied Insurance
Barton G. Bycroft DMD
Blue Beacon International
Broadway Mini-Storage~Penske Truck Rental
Brooks Tan, LLC
Byron Tomlins, DC
Clubine and Rettele, Chtd.
Consolidated Printing and Stationery
Daran Neuschafer Agency, Inc.
Davis and Associates
Discover Dental Center - Earl O’Hara
Drs. Cooper, Banninger, and Conway LLC
EyeCare Associates of Salina LLC
Flip Flops, LLC
Hampton & Royce, LC
Hannebaum Grain Company, Inc.
Heartland Dermatology
Jack N. Gillam, DDS
Jack Parr Associates
Ka-Comm, Inc.
Kathryn K. White, CPA
Kennedy, Berkley, Yarnevich and
Williamson, Chtd.
L & S Building Contractors, Inc.
Land Title Services
Laura’s Retail Liquor
McGinley’s Carpet Pro
Millwood Realty, Inc.
Mister Penguin Tuxedo Rental and Sales
New Horizons Dental Care PA
Norton, Wasserman, Jones and Kelly LLC
Occupational Performance Corporation
Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.
Phil’s Liquor Store
Propane Central
Ritter Tile Shop, Inc.
Robert Pruett Insurance Agency, Inc.
Roberts Truck Center - Salina, Inc.
Ryan Mortuary, Inc.
Salina Blueprint & Micrographic Systems, Inc.
Salina Dental Associates, PA
Salina Scale~Sales and Service, Inc.
Salina Surgical Hospital
Salina Urology Associates - Dr. Ryan Payne
Salina Vortex Corporation
Schwan’s Global Supply Chain, Inc.
ServiceMaster of Salina, Inc.
Smoky Hill LLC
Southwind Physical Therapy, Inc.
Sunflower Bank
Tangled Thread
The Bank of Tescott
Thomas K Wilson DDS
UMB
United Capital Management - Chad Koehn
Webb and Associates, Inc.
Securities offered through OFG Financial
Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC
Woods and Durham, CPA
Friend - $10-$99
Action Travel, Inc.
Becker Monument Company
Benson Accounting CPA PA
Brooks Retail Liquor Store
Buyer’s Guide, Inc.
Champion Seminars - Phil Coleman
Drs. Driver and Clark, PA
Fine Art of Family Dentistry PA
Hair Affaire
Headley’s Clothing
Jilka Furniture
Phil’s Karts - Philip Pixler
Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc.
Jeff Holgerson
Sankey Auto Center, Inc.
Sports Connection, Inc.
State Farm Insurance - Marsha Hoffhines
StuJo’s Car Washes
The Market Shop
Watson Electric, Inc.
Weckel Pet Care
Womack Sunshine Autos
SALINA EDUCATION FOUNDATION P.O. Box 797, Salina, Kansas 67402-0797 • 785-309-4729